Axial impact tool for inserting a pin connector into a socket



M. LAZAR AXIAL IMPACT TOOL FOR INSERTING A P'TNl CONNECTOR INTO A SOCKETFiled July 9, 1957 wh um. wm. w

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United States Patent AXIAL IMPACT TOOL FOR INSERTING A PIN CONNECTORINTO A SOCKET Michael Lazar, White Plains, N.Y., assignor to BurndyCorporation, a corporation of New York Application July 9, 1957, SerialNo. 670,779

8 Claims. (Cl. 81-52.35)

My invention relates to an insertion tool whereby mating articles may bedriven together with sufficient force to provide a tight connection.

In the field of electrical connectors such an article may be a taper pinwhich is required to be driven into a mating socket with suthcient forceto insure adequate holding power and contact. An impact center punchtype of tool may be used, employing a spring for establishing apredetermined impact, and requiring special tips for fitting specifictaper pins.

In addition, the taper pin may be accidentally freed from the toolbefore the -full impact has been received by the pin, thereby making animperfect connection.

Accordingly, onev of the primary objects of my inyention is to provide ataper pin insertion tool which will prevent accidental release of thetaper pin during the impact stroke.

Another object is to provide an insertion tool which will insure a goodconnection each time the tool is used, regardless of the experience ofthe individual operating the tool.

I accomplish these and other objects and obtain my new results as willbe apparent from the device described in the following specification,particularly pointed out in the claims,'and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein:

. Fig. 1 is a longitudinally sectional view of the invenl tion with `ataper pin in position therein.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the tool.

Fig. 3 is a modification, in partial section, of the connector grippingmeans shown in open position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modification in closed or locked position.

The tool 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a hollow cap 12, enclosingthe impact spring 14, which urges Washer 16 against seat 17, in housing18. The cap is threaded to the housing as at 20, to secure the spring inchamber 22 formed between the cap and housing. Sliding within chamber 24of housing 18, and driving washer 16, is a plunger 26. A iiat spring 28is riveted as at 30 to plunger 26, urging the ring or latch 32 intoperipheral slot 34 in the inner wall 36 of the housing 18.

The slot is tapered as at 38, to cam against the rounded shoulder 40 ofthe ring 32, and force the ring out of slot 34, when the ring isadvanced.

The ring is contained in transverse slot 42 of the plunger, in which islongitudinally positioned the connector engaging shaft 44. The e`nd 46of the shaft travels in the plunger bore 48, until it is stopped by theend wall 50 of the bore.

A neck portion 52 of the shaft extends through the larger diameter ofthe hollow 54 of the ring 32, which permits the ring to movetransversely on the shaft when dislodged by the spring 28 into the slot34.

Shaft 44 is supported by the retainer bushing 56 which is threaded tothe housing 18 and to a sleeve housing 58. Within the sleeve housing,the shaft 44 is enlarged to provide a ange 60 for supporting spring 62,.the oppo- 76 which rests on shoulder 78 of the taper pin.

site end of which is seated, as at 64 within the retainer bushing 58.

A hollow and rotatable sleeve 66 abuts ange 60 and encircles connectorengaging shaft 44. The sleeve extends through its housing 58 at opening59 and is provided with a connector opening 68. The end of the connectorengaging shaft 44 is hollow and is similarly provided with an opening 70to receive the taper pin connector 72 with its wire conductor ,'74crimped theret0. Y. 'i The connector engaging shaft 44 terminates inanvil The sleeve is rotated on ,the hollow shaft until Openings 68 and70 are superimposed, enabling the taperpin and wire to vhe seatedtherein. Fig. 2 shows the openings so positioned. The sleeve is thenrotated until the connector is locked in position. The end'of the shaftis restricted as at 80 to permit catching thetaper pin between theshoulder 78 and the pin connector. body 82.

A cam slot 84 is provided in the rotatable sleeve 66, having a long arm86 and a short arm 88; an elongated slot 85 is simlarlyprovided in shaft44. The cam screwY 90 is threaded in the sleeve housing 58 and extendsinto the short arm of slot 84 of sleeve 66 to permit rotation thereofand into slot 85 of shaft 44V to keep the shaft from turning when thesleeve is rotated. A torsion spring 92 anchored on locking pin 94.ispositioned .between the sleeve and shaft to maintain the properlongitudinal position therebetween.

The tool operates as follows: The connector '7.2" is placed into theopenings 68 and 70, and the' sleeve 68 rotated 90 degrees on the shaft44, bringing the cam screw 90 in line with the long arm 86 of slot 84.ThisV permits a longitudinal movement ofrabout /e" of the shaft into thehousing to lock the tool with the connector in secured position. Theinward movement forces ythe ring 32 into slot 34' latching the shaft inposition, so that only completion of the impacting cycle'can put theshaft and sleeve in position for releasing the connector,

The tool and extending connector are placed in proper position forinsertion, and'pressure is brought to bear upon the cap 12 compressingspring '14. This causes the ring to engage plunger 26, while ridingalong the wall of slot 34.

When the ring is cammed into its centered position on the neck 52 ofshaft 44, by the tapered wall 38, plunger 26 is released and returns toits original position. The action is so fast that flat spring 28 isineffectual to off-center the ring in this phase of the impacting cycle.

The predetermined pressure is obtained by threading the cap to thehousing to the desired point, and driving pin 96 between the cap andhousing to prevent accidental loosening.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated a modified form of connector lockingmeans. The shaft 44a terminates in a pair of spring action connectorengaging jaws 66a, which are compressed by the jaw housing 58a againstthe spring action. The shaft is pressed into the housing, thus securelylocking the connector until the impacting cycle is completed. The jawsterminate in connector tting recesses a'which enclose the shoulder 78aof connector Y Patented Oct, 6.1'959- 70a and the actionof the shaftdrives the anvil 76a against the taper pin shoulder 78a to impact thetaper pin into its mating socket.

The jaws 66a may be threadedly mounted to the shaft 44a' as at 661)',see Fig. 4, to facilitate a change in size, or for replacement.

In the tool described I have provided means for gripping the connectorto be driven, and locking the same to the tool until the full impact ofthe predetermined force has been released. Thereafter, the tool may befreed from the inserted taper pin and made available for anotheroperation.

By employing a predetermined force which is safely and fully delivered,it is possible to free the impacting procedure from developing faultyconnections arising from the use of inexperienced operators.

Other types of impacting mechanisms may be used. The tool is adaptablefor use with other forms of articles, such as taper sockets which aredriven by changing the shape of the article supporting means.

I have thus described my invention but I desire it understood that it isnot confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, thesame being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carriedout in other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention,and, therefore, I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalentinstrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and bymeans of which objects of my invention are attained and new resultsaccomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments hereinshown and described are only some of the many that can be employed toattain these objects and accomplish these results.

I claim:

1. A driving tool for inserting an article comprising a plunger, ashaft, means for locking thereto the article to be inserted throughoutthe insertion, means for latching said shaft to said plunger, means forcreating an impact force upon said article when said shaft is unlatchedfrom the plunger.-

2. The tool of claim 1 provided with means for locking the shaft inposition Within the tool causing the article to lbe automatically lockedto said shaft when the shaft reaches its locked position.

- 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the article is locked to said shaft bya rotary means.

4. The tool of claim 2 provided with means for unlocking the articlewhen the shaft is projected outwardly from its unlatched position.

5. The tool of claim 2 provided with a rotatable sleeve outside theshaft, a torsion spring opposing relative motion between the sleeve andshaft for maintaining the relative position therebetween.

6. The tool of claim 2 provided with a rotatable sleeve outside theshaft for enclosing the article, a cam slot positioned in said sleevehaving a long arm and a short arm, a projecting member positioned insaid slot for controlling the position of said sleeve with respect tosaid tool.

7. The tool of claim 2 wherein the shaft terminates in a plurality ofarms for gripping the article, said arms being compressed to grip thearticle when said Shaft and article is inwardly moved into said tool.

8. A driving tool comprising a housing, an impact spring in saidhousing, a plunger for compressing said impact spring, a shaft movablewith respect to said' plunger, a latch positioned between said plungerand said shaft and laterally movable with respect thereto for lockingthe shaft to said plunger, a catch formed in said housing, a spring forurging said latch laterally into said catch for holding the shaft .inlocked position with re spect thereto, said shaft terminating -into aconnector gripping means, means for locking a connector into saidconnector gripping means upon movement of said shaft into the lockedvposition, means for releasing the latch for separating the plunger fromthe shaft upon compression of the impact spring when said latch hastraveled a predetermined distance in said housing, to

drive the shaft and connector, and means for releasing the connectorfrom the gripping means only when said shaft is in outwardly extendedposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,572,046 Seiler Feb. 9, 1926 1,952,395 Tillyer et al. Mar. 27, 19342,594,901 Forster Apr. 29, 1952 2,774,133 Sitz Dec. 18, 1956 FOREIGNPATENTS 244,120 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1947 610,208 Great Britain Oct. ,13,1,943

